Prospect Info: 2022 - 1st OA] Juraj Slafkovsky (LW) Part 4

[Skip Bayless]

Imagine Oleg Petrov at Slafkovsky’s size. Has hockey changed or is it recent hab teams that don’t cycle much?

The habs haven't been much of a puck possession team in the last 25 years (No time to build, make the playoffs at all costs mindset). The way MSL talks about puck management and coaching the players who don't have the puck more than the players who have it leads me to believe they're trying to become that team.

It takes time and practice to instill these things onto teams. It's about culture, making the team think the game in a certain way collectively and a lot of commitment. It makes you think about CFMontreal in soccer, it took about 2-3 years before they became a 60% ball possession team.

The rebuild is not just about rebuilding the core, but about getting to that identity the org envisions on the ice.

 

[MonkeyBusiness]

It's frustrating to see jabronis go infront of the net instead of supporting the guy on the cycle when there's just 0 chance for a shot. When will they learn.

The clip is almost a Jake Evans blooper reel.

 

[Andrei79]

Off the top of my mind, only 2 or 3 number 1OA Fs really dominated at 18. I only remember Crosby and Lemieux right now. Otherwise everyone else was on a normal curve between 10 and 70 points.

I'd add McDavid. He likely would've finished as the second leading scorer after Kane if not for that injury.

 

[Skip Bayless]

The clip is almost a Jake Evans blooper reel.

Sometimes I feel like some players hide from the game on purpose. The key to truly great team is that the players need to feel comfortable calling that shit out.

 

[MON4NHLTOR4MLB]

If they keep him up all year, I think their plan is to keep him sheltered and slowly prepare him for a top 9 role come trade deadline when they inevitably move a couple scrubs out

 

[Kennerback]

I'd add McDavid. He likely would've finished as the second leading scorer after Kane if not for that injury.

Kane had 72? So after Lemieux and Crosby’s ridiculous 100+ point season, he’s next. Crosby was an insta-allstar, Kane was very good but his peak was much higher. McDavid had that half season but his numbers were excellent.

 

[Andrei79]

Kane had 72? So after Lemieux and Crosby’s ridiculous 100+ point season, he’s next. Crosby was an insta-allstar, Kane was very good but his peak was much higher. McDavid had that half season but his numbers were excellent.

I was talking about Kane's 2015-2016 Art Ross season. McDavid likely finishes 2nd in scoring in his rookie year if not for that injury. I think he's very much in that dominant as an 18 year old category.

 

[CHfan1]

Off the top of my mind, only 2 or 3 number 1OA Fs really dominated at 18. I only remember Crosby and Lemieux right now. Otherwise everyone else was on a normal curve between 10 and 70 points.

Hawerchuk, Lindros, and Matthews put up good numbers in their rookie season, all 40 goal scorers. Lindros had 41 goals in 61 games.

 

[Andrei79]

Hawerchuk, Lindros, and Matthews put up good numbers in their rookie season.

Lindros wasn't 18. Neither was Matthews.

 

[CHfan1]

Lindros wasn't 18. Neither was Matthews.

Yeah, I see you’re right. Matthews barely missed the cutoff for the 2015 draft.

 

[Mrb1p]

Hawerchuk, Lindros, and Matthews put up good numbers in their rookie season, all 40 goal scorers. Lindros had 41 goals in 61 games.

Eichel, Laine, Mack, RNH, Landeskog to name a few also had very good d+1 NHL seasons

 

[Kojo]

Eichel, Laine, Mack, RNH, Landeskog to name a few also had very good d+1 NHL seasons

They're talking about 18 years old who were selected first overall. But I was curious and looked at Eichel's game log, he was a couple of months older than Juraj when he played his first NHL game and got 4 points in his first 12 games. Jagr had 3 points in his first 11 games also.

 

[River Meadow]

I missed last nights game, but I am thankful for highlights like this. I know McCagg is pumping his tires a bit....but still that is impressive puck control and board work for an 18 year old. At 22 he will be an absolute beast.

He's that strong at 18...

Guy is gonna be an absolute certified BEAST in his prime.

I think we just might have made the right pick this time.... *knock on wood*

 

[River Meadow]

For Slaf to be really dominant, he needs to do a lot more of what he did at ~0:48. He's really good at the boards, but to make him a more dangerous offensive player, he needs to learn how to also attack the net instead of only being really good at the perimeter. He's young, so obviously he still has a lot of time, but if he learns how to do that, it's over.

 

[Habsrule]

What are your predictions? Does Slafkovsky play at the World Juniors?

I personally would like to see him go and dominate. The Habs would miss him but it is not like he is an integral part to the roster this year. Let him go and get his confidence up. Hopefully he could carry that swag back to the NHL.

 

[River Meadow]

What are your predictions? Does Slafkovsky play at the World Juniors?

I personally would like to see him go and dominate. The Habs would miss him but it is not like he is an integral part to the roster this year. Let him go and get his confidence up. Hopefully he could carry that swag back to the NHL.

I hope they let him and encourage him to go.

Given how passionate about his country he is... I am convinced he does and desperately wants to go.

 

[Habsrule]

I hope they let him and encourage him to go.

Given how passionate about his country he is... I am convinced he does and desperately wants to go.

And let him play with Mesar there.

 

[rahad]

Yeah, I see you’re right. Matthews barely missed the cutoff for the 2015 draft.

Adding Matthews in the 2015 draft would have been insane. Probably, the greatest top 3 in draft history.

 

[Kojo]

Kinda tired of this WJC talk. Mesar is not that good btw.

 

[SlafySZN]

Love that Hughes says Slafkovsky is a team player.

 

[Belial]

Slaf already knows these 2 things, no need for Armia - this ain't KK or Chucky. He needs to play with good players and get used to the offensive flows.

I'll take Armia over Pezzetta...

LOL Neither Anderson nor Monahan will camp out around the net. One of the easiest aspects of becomng a power forward is learning where and how to camp-out around the net. Unless you don't think we drafted him to become that guy? With his hands he should be able to create all kind of havoc down low and in close. We got this guy to SCORE GOALS like he did in the Olympics. It was his finishing that caught peoples attention not his playmaking. You can go ahead and punch me in the face if we try to turn Slaf into a finesse player.

I don't want to punch you in the face but Slafkovsky is more of a playmaker actually... His incredible goal-scoring streak during the Olympics was a bit uncharacteristic.

Don't get me wrong, he can definitely score goals but eventually, he'll be more of a playmaker IMO.

 

[Heffyhoof]

An odd positive for playing young highly talented NHL-ready players who aren't immediate stars, but have that obvious potential in their toolbox, on the 4th line is they are the star of their line.

Both Suzuki and Slaf, even if they aren't getting 16-17 minutes of being the third wheel or just a part of an ok line, were/are forced by necessity to be the driving player of their line, and they are getting 10-11 minutes of it playing against lower-skilled NHLers. When they become the consistently dominant player over a good stretch, in comes the promotion.

 

[BaseballCoach]

They're talking about 18 years old who were selected first overall. But I was curious and looked at Eichel's game log, he was a couple of months older than Juraj when he played his first NHL game and got 4 points in his first 12 games. Jagr had 3 points in his first 11 games also.

It's almost as if it is possible to develop one's game in the NHL.

 

[SOLR]

It's almost as if it is possible to develop one's game in the NHL.

2 games or you are out! enough with low expectations!

 

[calder candidate]

He is clearly able to play in the NHL, he just need more ice time and to keep is feet moving.